A Daily Gospel Reflection
by Deacon Joe Coan
Wednesday, February 24, 2021
While still more people gathered in the crowd, he said to them, “This generation is an evil generation; it seeks a sign, but no sign will be given it, except the sign of Jonah. Just as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites, so will the Son of Man be to this generation. At the judgment the queen of the south will rise with the men of this generation and she will condemn them, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and there is something greater than Solomon here. At the judgment the men of Nineveh will arise with this generation and condemn it, because at the preaching of Jonah they repented, and there is something greater than Jonah here.”
A man named Theudas appeared in Israel in A.D. 45. He claimed to be the Messiah. As proof of his claim, he promised about 400 of his followers that he would divide the waters of the Jordan, as Moses had divided the waters of the Red Sea. Of course, he failed.
Some people were asking for a sign like this from Jesus, to show God's approval of him. Jesus offered only his preaching as a sign, as Jonah had done to the Ninevites. Jonah offered no signs to confirm what he said. When Jonah preached, people with open hearts heard God's voice in him and repented. So it must be with Israel. People who can't hear God's voice in Jesus won't see God's hand in signs, either.
How open is our heart to God's voice speaking to us through other people?
Lord, help us realize you are more eager to communicate with us than we sometimes are to listen to you.
